U-bolt locking device



March 15, 1955 H. DIAMOND U-BOLT LOCKING DEVICE Filed May 15,v 1952 2Shee'ts-Sheet l H. DIAMOND U-BOLT LOCKING DEVICE March 15, 1955 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 15, 1 952 INVENTOR. Harry ,Uta/mona? UnitedStates Patent O 2,704,194 U-BOLT LOCKING DEVICE Harry Diamond,Elizabeth, N. J. Application May 15, 1952, Serial No. 287,971 4 Claims.(Cl. 248-120) This invention relates to pallets and more particularly topallets which may be stacked one upon the other when loaded withoutdamage to the packages of merchandise carried thereby but which may becollapsed and stacked one upon the other in a reduced space for storageor when empty. During the past years the use of pallets adapted to carrya series of packages, crates, bags or other containers has increasedconsiderably and it is common practice to strap merchandise to a palletand ship the entire pallet. After the merchandise has been deliveredthere is always the problem of recovering the pallets and of shippingthem in the smallest space possible.

In my improved construction I provide a pallet that may be made of woodor metal in which in addition to the load carrying surface there areposts with a bearing surface or foot at the top thereof so that onepallet may be stacked upon the other when loaded. I also provide meanswhereby these posts may be folded onto the surface of the pallet whenthe pallet is empty so as to make it possible for a great many morepallets to be stacked in a given amount of space than if the posts couldnot be collapsed.

In addition I provide means wherein the posts may be positively lockedin the upright position to prevent any accidental collapsing. Where thedistance a loaded pallet is to travel is short and the way smooth, theposts may be leftin the position whereby they are readily collapsible,but if the distance is great and the pallet may be subjected to roughhandling, it is desirable to have a positive lock. Moreover, I provide aclamping unit which may be used on a wooden pallet to position saidposts and which will positively grip the end beam of the pallet toprevent loosening of the xture and undue strain on the joints.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, reference is had to the following specication andto the drawings in which:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a pallet embodying my structure.

Fig. 2 is a side view of said pallet.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation partly in section taken on the line 3 3of Fig. 1. t

Fig. 4 is a detailed view taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

rFig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 6,showing a portion of the clamping fixture.

Fig. 6 is a detailed side elevation of the posts.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view partly in section of the clamping memberand post support.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the pallet 10 may consistof two side members 11 and 12 and a central member 14. These connect thebottom members 16 and the platform members 17 and are so spaced as toreceive the fork of a lift truck so that the pallet may be moved fromplace to place or loaded on a vehicle from the ground. At each corner ofthe pallet, mounted on the ends of the side members 11 and 12, is abracket 20 which consists of two side members 21 and 22 secured to theend members by the bolts 23. The members 21 and 22 are provided with aninwardly extending flange 24 which has a series of serrations or teeth25 adapted to bite into and engage the surface of the wood, as is partlyshown in Fig. 5, and to relieve the strain on the bolts 23.

Welded to the clamping members 21 and 22 is a U-shaped member having abase 26 and a pair of uprights 27 and 28. The uprights 27 and 28 arenotched at 29 on the upper end thereof and are provided with a slot 30.On the base 26 is welded a retainer block 31. This retainer block isslightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the post 32 and is adaptedto form a base for the post. A slot corresponding to the slot extendsthrough the posts at 35 and a second registered opening extends throughthe plates at 36 and the post at 37, The

2,704,194 Patented Mar. 15, 1955 ICC U-bolt 40 having one end 41slightly longer than the other and drilled to receive a cotter-pin 42and a washer 43 is disposed with its longer end in the slot 30 andextending through the slot 35 in the post.

When it is desired to have the posts in a collapsible condition, theshorter end of the U-bolt is turned to rest in the notches 29 and extendthrough the corresponding opening in the post. The bottom of the postwill rest around the retainer block, and the U-bolt extending throughthe post will prevent collapsing. However, when the post is lifted sothat the shorter end 44 of the U-bolt rides out of the notches 29, thepost may be collapsed.

Where it is desired to have the posts positively locked against collapsethe Cotter-pin 42 and the washer 43 are temporarily removed and theU-bolt is pulled outwardly until the arm thereof 44 clears the openingin the posts as well as the edge of the upright. The U-bolt is thenpivoted in the slot 30 and placed through the opening 36 in the plateend 37 in the post. The Cotter-pin and washer are then replaced and thepost is in the positively locked position. It will bernoted that in thisposition the arm 41 of the U-bolt 40 is in the bottom of the slot 30while in the collapsible position it is in the top of the slot. In thelower position it is not possible to lift the U-bolt to clear theretainer block 31 so that the post is supported at three points.

I claim:

1. A collapsible stacking element for use on a pallet comprisingstacking posts, a U-shaped upright supporting said posts, a notch on thetop of said upright, a slot in each of said uprights, a U-bolt havingone end extending through said upright and said posts, the other end ofsaid U-bolt engaging the notches at the top of said upright andextending through said posts whereby the posts may be collapsed bylifting one end of said U-bolt out of said notches.

2. A collapsible stacking element for use on a pallet comprisingstacking posts, a pair of plate members having inwardly extending teeth,a pair of uprights engaged by said plate members, notches in the top ofsaid uprights, a slot in each of said uprights, a U-bolt having one endextending through said uprights and said posts, the other end of saidU-bolt in one position engaging the notches at the top of the uprightsand extending through said posts and in another position extendingthrough the openings in said uprights and said posts to positively lockthem in the upright position.

3. A collapsible stacking element for use on a pallet including astacking post, a pair of plate members having inwardly extending teeth,a U-shaped upright engaged by said plate members, a retainer block onthe base of the upright engaging a post, a notch on the top of saiduprights, a slot in each of said uprights, a U-shaped member having oneend extending through said uprights and said post, the other end of saidU-shaped member engaging the notches at the top of the uprights andextending through said post in one position whereby the post may becollapsed and in another position extending through an opening in saiduprights and said post to positively lock it in the upright position.

4. A stacking assembly for pallets comprising a post, a pair ofuprights, notches in the top of said uprights, a slot in each of saiduprights, a U- bolt having one end extending through said uprights andsaid posts, the other end of said U-bolt in one position extendingthrough said posts and in another position extending through openings insaid uprights and said posts to pivotally lock them in the uprightposition. 'f

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,102,413 Jensen Iuly 7, 1914 2,356,085 Pfai Aug. 15, 1944 2,471,693Lilienfeld May 31, 1949 2,495,711 Fletcher Ian. 31, 1950 2,498,414Gondar Feb. 2l, 1950 2,523,271 Bartel Sept. 26, 1950 2,654,484 Win etal. Oct. 6, 1953

